#fa xiaozhi

[gingerbreadmonsters]

glass jaw - pronunciation guide

or: anglophone readers, listen up!

this is a somewhat slapdash, amateur guide to help you with some of the mandarin words that appear in glass jaw - it's not the perfect solution, but when you're reading in your head and a word looks unfamiliar, this might come in handy!

If it helps, I suggest copying the characters into google translate so that you can get that to say them out loud for you :D

The surname Solaire becomes 星 xing1, which means ‘star’ but is sometimes translated as ‘sun’ – it’s pronounced like the English word sing, but with a sh- sound at the front instead of a hissing s sound.

Alexis’ name is 丽华 li4 hua2, ‘beautiful’, ‘flourishing’, ‘beautiful flower’, and is pronounced lee (as in the English leave) hwa (similar feeling to the onomatopoeia of a kiss sound mwah). Vincent sometimes calls her 丽丽 li4 li4, which is similarly pronounced lee lee, just as you would expect.

Vincent’s name is 志伟 zhi4 wei3, ‘greatness’, ‘extraordinary purpose’, ‘ambition’, and is pronounced juh (like the French je, as in je m’appelle) way (as in the English way, from runway or subway).

Vincent and Alexis call William 爸爸 ba2 ba, or just 爸 ba2, meaning ‘father’ or ‘dad’, pronounced ba as in the English baptism.

They sometimes append 姐 -jie3 (‘big sister’, pronounced like jee-eh, jee as in the ge in the English genie, and eh as in the first e in ever) or 弟 -di4 (‘little brother’, pronounced like dee) to their names, so Vincent might call Alexis lijie (‘older sister Alexis’, lee jee-eh) and Alexis might call Vincent zhidi (‘younger brother Vincent, juh dee).

They might also do a similar thing with 小 xiao3, meaning ‘little’ (pronounced like shao, like the show in shower), like Alexis or William calling Vincent xiaozhi (‘little Vincent’, shao juh).

William calls Alexis 小公主 xiao3 gong1 zhu3 (pronounced shao gong joo), which means ‘little princess’ – similar to how it would be in English, it’s a sort of affectionately teasing nickname for a daughter that might imply she’s a pretty girl who’s a little bit spoilt, the little princess of the family.

宝贝 bao3 bei4 (pronounced bow bay, bow as in take a bow, bay as in the English bay, like San Francisco Bay or Botany Bay) means ‘baby’, ‘treasure’, ‘darling’, and is used as a term of endearment, just like in English.

回家了 hui2 jia1 le (pronounced h-way jee-ah luh, h-way like the English way with an h at the front, jee-ah like ge from genie and ah from art, and luh as in the luh from luxury) is short for 我回家了wo3 hui2 jia1 le, and it just means ‘I’m home’. (You can think of it a bit like the Japanese ただいま tadaima (as in tadaima and okaeri) if that helps!)

They mention a 发簪 fa1 zan1 (pronounced fa as in father and zan as in the san of sand, but with a z instead of an s at the front) – it’s a type of long chinese hairpin used to tie one’s hair up. (You know how in Hollywood films, they like to lean on lazy cultural stereotypes by making a Chinese lady put her hair up in a bun using a chopstick? Imagine that the chopstick is an actual, nicely decorated hairpin, and that’s basically a fa zan.)

go back to glass jaw <3

main masterlist

this is a companion to an original fanwork by @gingerbreadmonsters - please do not repost or misattribute

[oohkahmii]

Fa Xiaozhi I guess.

So I just got my break, still with some work to do but hopefully able to crank out some personal art.

[oohkahmee]

In Warriors Orochi setting: Which 5 people would she have interactions with? Would she have a Deified form? What is her unique weapon?

Oooooh I happened to made posts about these before!

Yan can form a few bonds with them, briefly (details can be found here):

Fa Zheng: Yan used to share similar views on the concept of payback, until she learned how dangerous that was. She isn’t Xiaozhi, she could of let revenge take control of her.

Oichi: Seeing how loving this couple is, Yan can’t help but to go “aww”. She’d sees Oichi as an empowering woman.

Han Dang: A sweet ossan that is always being overshadowed. His constant need to stand out just to seem useful, Yan felt that.

Ma Chao: Wherever he goes, whatever the setting may be, Yan can NEVER stand his yelling. But they are still great partners in war.

Wen Yang: He wasn’t included at first but now I decided to. Although the case is more likely Yang approaching Yan. Figured he might want to know more about Yun through her.

Yan’s deified form is based off Artemis, post right here:

I’ve noticed some of Yan’s characteristics can correlate with Artemis’.

Yan does want to protect those dear to her, even animals. While Artemis is said to be a huntress, she is also the Goddess of wildlife. See the association there. Artemis would act out in anger when disobeyed, Yan too won’t hesitate to punt someone out the window when they overstepped her boundaries, close friends or family.

As for her sacred treasure, it would make sense that Yan wields the Bow of Artemis. 

Thank you for the question :)

[dethdealer12345-blog]

The Hanzhong Campaign (217-219) and the ‘Battle of Han River’.

The battle of Han River is a strange thing in history.

Set during the early Three Kingdoms period, before the Three Kingdoms had even formed proper. The battle takes place in Hanzhong Commandery between the warlords Cao Cao and Liu Bei. To anyone who knows of the time period, be it through historical texts, games, novels, etc this should be sounding familiar.

I myself love the time period, and it was while looking through historical sources that I noticed a discrepancy.

The following is what I have found as well as my thoughts.

The Hanzhong Campaign according to Sanguozhi

Liu Bei's Biography

In 215 AD, Liu Bei had conquered Yizhou, Sun Quan sent an ambassador to him to ask for Jingzhou. Liu Bei replied:

"I need to conquer Liangzhou before I can offer Jingzhou."

Sun Quan was angry and asked Lu Meng to attack Changsha, Guiyang, and Lingling. Liu Bei led fifty thousand troops to Gong'an and asked Guan Yu to station in Yiyang. During this year, Cao Cao settled Hanzhong while Zhang Lu escaped to Ba Xi.

When Liu Bei heard of this, he asked for peace with Sun Quan and offered to divide up the Jingzhou prefecture: Jiangxia, Changsha, and North Guiyang were given to Wu, while he kept Nanjun, Lingling, and West Wuling.

Liu Bei then returned his troops to Jiangzhou and sent Huang Quan to accept Zhang Lu. But Zhang Lu had already surrendered to Cao Cao. Cao Cao asked Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He to station in Hanzhong and attack the Ba (Shu) border. Liu Bei ordered Zhang Fei to lead troops to Yanchu and fight Zhang He at Wakou pass. Zhang He was defeated and retreated to Nanzheng, capital of Hanzhong. Liu Bei returned to Chengdu.

In 218, Liu Bei took all his subordinates to attack Hanzhong and asked Wu Lan and Lei Tong to conquer Wu Du. However, they both were defeated and killed by Cao Cao's troops. Liu Bei stationed at Yangping Pass and confronted Xiahouo Yuan and Zhang He.

In the sping of 219, Liu Bei at the south of Yangping Pass passed across the Mian river and camped at Dingjun mountain. Xiahou Yuan came to take the area of Zou Ma valley. Liu Bei ordered Huang Zhong to attack Xiahou Yuan at the height of the battle drums. Xiahou Yuan as well as Ci the Inspector of Yizhou Zhao Yu, were defeated and killed by Huang Zhong. Cao Cao led his troops south to attack Liu Bei. Liu Bei said:

"Cao Cao is now coming but he is no threat to us anymore. I will soon have Han Chuan within my grasp."

When Cao Cao arrived, Liu Bei did not attack but continued to defend his camp. Many troops were deserting away from Cao Cao's side. By the time of summer, Cao Cao finally retreated and Liu Bei conquered Hanzhong. Liu Bei sent Liu Feng, Meng Da, and Li Yan to attack Shen Dan in Shangyong who later surrendered.

Zhang Fei's biography

Cao Cao defeated Zhang Lu, and left Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He to defend the Han valley. Zhang He led several battalions separately down to Baxi, intending to evacuate the locals to Hanzhong. He advanced to Dangqu, Mengtou, Dangshi, and opposed Zhang Fei for some fifty days. Zhang Fei directed more than 10,000 elite soldiers through an alternate route to intercept Zhang He. In the narrow and treacherous mountain paths, without any chance of aid from either van or rear, Zhang Fei subsequently defeated Zhang He. Zhang He abandoned Mount Mayuan and retreated with little more than ten men through a minor path, leading the troops back to Nanzheng. The land of Ba was thus able to gain peace. Liu Bei became King of Hanzhong and assigned Zhang Fei General of the Right, with insignia bestowed.

Huang Zhong's biography

In 219, Huang Zhong attacked Xiahou Yuan at Mount Dingjun in Hanzhong. Xiahou Yuan's troops were elite but on every charge Huang Zhong was at the forefront, to rouse his soldiers. The drums roused the Heavens and the roar of the soldiers resonated through the gorges. At the first clash Xiahou Yuan was beheaded and his troops greatly defeated. Huang Zhong was promoted to the position of General who Subdues the West. That year, Liu Bei became King of Hanzhong and wished to make Huang Zhong General of the Rear. Zhuge Liang advised Liu Bei saying:

"Huang Zhong's presitge never matched that of Guan Yu or Ma Chao. But now he is their equal. Ma Chao and Zhang Fei are by your side, have seen his meritorious service and will understand your choice. But when Guan Yu hears from afar, I fear that he will not be happy. This cannot be had."

Liu Bei said:

"I will resolve this myself."

Then Huang Zhong was promoted to the same level as Guan Yu and the others, and was enfeoffed as a Marquis of the Imperial Domain.

Fa Zheng's biography

In 217, Fa Zheng said to Liu Bei:

"With one blow Cao Cao compelled Zhang Lu to surrender and settled Hanzhong, but he did not follow up his advantage by invading Ba and Shu. All he has done is leave Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He to guard the place, while he himself suddenly goes back to the north. It is not that he is foolish, nor that he is weak. He must have some secret cause for anxiety. Now think about Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He. They are no match for our officers. If you raise an army and attack, you will surely defeat them."

"When you have done that, encourage farming and build stores of grain, look for some grievance and await opportunity. At best, you will overturn the enemy and preserve the royal house; at the second level, you may nibble away at Yong and Liang provinces ans so extend your territory; and at the very least, you can set a firm guard on the strategic points and secure yourself a long time to come. This is a chance from Heaven. You must not let it pass!"

Liu Bei was delighted with his plan. He then led all his officers and troops to Hanzhong. Fa Zheng also traveled with. In 219, Liu Bei from Yang Ping crossed the Mian River. He entered the mountain range and set up an encampment at Dingjun. Xiahou Yuan brought his troops to contend this ground. Fa Zheng said:

"We can strike."

Liu Bei then instructed Huang Zhong beat the drums and ride the cavalry to attack them. He greatly defeated Xiahou Yuan's army and took his head.

Cao Cao brought the army west. When he heard of Fa Zheng's plan he said:

"I knew Xuande (Liu Bei) was unable to accomplish this, someone else was teaching him."

Liu Bei made himself the King of Han Zhong and set up Fa Zheng as Prefect Imperial Secretariat and General who  Protects the Army. That year he died at age 45.

A note at the end of his biography tells the following story.

Liu Bei and Cao Cao fought and the progress was slow. The idea to withdraw was voiced. Liu Bei then became very angry and would not withdraw and no one would dare object. The arrows poured down like rain so Fa Zheng stood in front of the Liu Bei. Liu Bei said:

"Xiaozhi (Fa Zheng) avoid the arrows."

Fa Zheng said:

"My enlightened lord braves the arrows and stones himself, so how can a servant like me not do so?"

Liu Bei responded:

"Xiaozhi, you and I will leave together."

And so they withdrew.

Liu Feng's Biography

In 219, orders sent Meng Da from Zigui to go north to attack Fangling, and Administrator of Fangling Kuai Qi was by Meng Da's troops killed. Meng Da was about to advance and attack Shangyong, But Liu Bei secretly feared Meng Da was difficult to be entrusted alone, and therefore sent Liu Feng from Hanzhong to ride the Mian river down to join Meng Da's army, with Meng Da meeting at Shangyong.

Shen Dan, Administrator of Shangyong, led his army to surrender, sending his wives and children and clansmen to Chengdu as hostages. Liu Bei added office to Shen Dan as General who Conquers the North, with office as Administrator of Shangyong and fief as Marquis of Yuanxiang as before, and appointed Shen Dan's younger brother Shen Yi as General Establishing Faith and Administrator of Xiheng, and sent Liu Feng as General of the Assistant Army.

Zhou Qun's Biography

Liu Bei wished to fight with Cao Cao over Hanzhong, and asked Zhou Qun. Zhou Qun answered:

"You can obtain its land, but not its people. If you send out a separate supporting army you will certainly be unsuccessful. You must be cautious!"

At the time Yizhou's Rear Division Major Zhang Yu of Shu-jun was skilled with weather based divination, and his innate talent surpassed Zou Qun, and he remonstrated Liu Bei:

"You cannot fight for Hanzhong. The army will certainly be unsuccessful."

Liu Bei did not use Zhang Yu's words, and indeed obtained the territory but not its people. Generals Wu Lan, Lei Tong, and others entered Wudu as a separate supporting force, and all died and did not return, all as Zhou Qun had said. Therefore Zhou Qun was nominated as Maocai "Abundant Talent."

Wang Ping's Biography

Followed Cao Cao on campaign to Hanzhong, and because he surrendered to Liu Bei was appointed Ivory Gate General and Supplementary General.

Cao Cao's Biography

Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Wu Lan, and others to garrison Xiabian. Cao Hong was sent to counter them.

Cao Hong defeated Wu Lan and beheaded his general Ren Kui and others. In the third month, Zhang Fei and Ma Chao fled to Hanzhong. The Di of Yinping, Qiang Rui killed Wu Lan and presented his head.

In the seventh month, autumn, there were held military exercises for the subsequent western campaign against Liu Bei. In the ninth month, he reached Chang'an.

In 219, in the first month, Xiahou Yuan battled with Liu Bei at Yangping and was killed by Liu Bei.

In the third month, Cao Cao advanced from Xie Gorge, ordered his army to secure strategic points, approached Hanzhong and subsequently reached Yangping. Liu Bei held out in the defense of the difficult terrain.

In the fifth month, summer, he led the army in withdrawel to Chang'an.

Xiahou Yuan's Biography

When Zhang Lu surrendered, Hanzhong was pacified, and Xiahou Yuan was appointed Acting General of Regional Defense with command over Zhang He, Xu Huang, and others to pacify Ba Jun. Cao Cao returned to Ye, leaving Xiahou Yuan to defend Han Zhong and appointed Xiahou Yuan General who Conquers the West.

In 218, Liu Bei' army entered Yangping pass. Xiahou Yuan sent the officers to resist him, and they faced one another and defended through the year.

In 219, first moon, Liu Bei in the night set fire to the camp barricades. Xiahou Yuan sent Zhang He to defend the eastern side, and personally led light troops to defend the southern sides. Liu Bei advanced and battled Zhang He, and Zhang He's army was unsuccessful. Xiahou Yuan divided his troops and sent half to assist Zhang He, but was attacked by Liu Bei. Xiahou Yuan therefore died in battle.

Cao Xiu's Biography

Liu Bei sent his General Wu Lan to camp at Xiabian, Cao Cao sent Cao Hong to attack them, with Cao Xiu as Cavalry Commandant and Adviser to Cao Hong's army. Cao Cao said to Cao Xiu:

"Though you are the army's advisor, in fact you are the commander."

Cao Hong heard this order, and also entrusted matters to Cao Xiu,

In 218, Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei to camp at Gushan, wishing to cut off the army's rear. Everyone discussed and was unsure, and Cao Xiu said:

"If the rebels truly were cutting off the road, they would hide troops and move secretly. Now instead they first make noise  to show strength, so this cannot be. We should while they are not yet gathered, urgently strike Wu Lan. If Wu Lan is destroyed then Zhang Fei will himself flee."

Cao Hong followed this, advanced troops to strike Wu Lan, greatly defeated them, and Zhang Fei indeed fled.

In 219, Cao Cao evacuated Hanzhong, the various armies returned to Chang'an, and appointed Cao Xiu as Central Manager of the Army.

Cao Zhen's Biography

As an Assistant-General he commanded troops to strike Liu Bei's separate division Generals at Xiabian, defeated them, and was promoted to Central Firm General. He followed to Chang'an, with command as Central Manager of the Army.

At that time, 219, Xiahou Yuan perished at Yangping, and Cao Cao mourned him. Cao Zhen became Protector of the Army campaigning against Shu, commanding Xu Huang and others to defeat Liu Bei's seperate division General Gao Xiang at Yangping.

Cao Cao reached Hanzhong, pulled back the various armies, sending Cao Zhen to Wudu to call back Cao Hong and the rest to return to garrison Chencang.

Xu Huang's Biography

Cao Cao returned to Ye, leaving Xu Huang with Xiahou Yuan to resist Liu Bei at Yangping. Liu Bei sent Chen Shi and others with over 10 battalions to cut off Mamingge road, bu Xu Huang separately campaigned and defeated them, and the rebels threw themselves into the mountain valley, and many died.

Cao Cao heard of this and was deeply pleased, gave Xu Huang a Staff of Authority, and the Order said:

"This road is Hanzhong's vital throat. Liu Bei wished to cut off the outside and inside, in order to capture Hanzhong. You General in one move overcame and defeated the rebel plans, and are the greatest of the great."

Cao Cao then himself reached Yangping (219), and led back Hanzhong's various armies.

Xin Pi's Biography

Long afterward, (217) Cao Cao sent Regional Protector Cao Hong to pacify Xiabian, and sent Xin Pi and Cao Xiu to advise him. The Order said:

"In the past Gaozu (Liu Bang) was greedy and lecherous, but Zhang Liang and Chen Ping rectified his faults. Now Zuozhi's (Xin Pi's) and Wenlie's (Cao Xiu's) worries are not light."

In 219 the army returned, and he became Chief Clerk to the Chancellor.

Zhang He's Biography

Zhang He leading an army, captured and received the surrender of the two commanderies Ba Dong (Eastern Ba) and Ba Xi (Western Ba); adding the two populations into Hanzhong. Advancing towards Dang Qu, he met resistance from Zhang Fei, and withdrew to Nanzheng. Zhang He was promoted to General who Agitates Bandits.

Liu Bei had over ten thousand elite troops under his command, divided into ten divisions, and quickly attacked Zhang He at night. Zhang He lead some personal troops to engage thus preventing Liu Bei. Afterwards, Liu Bei set fire to Zou Ma valley encircling the area. Xiahou Yuan who was putting out the fire confronted Liu Bei and fought a battle. Lacking in troops and continuing on, Xiahou Yuan died.

Zhang He returned to Yangping. Due to the recent death of their commander Xiahou Yuan, the three armies all lost complexion in their faces. They were fearful of the rising in power of Liu Bei. Xiahou Yuan's second in command, the Major Guo Huai ordered the remnants of the army thus:

"General Zhang He is  a renowned general in the kingdom; one that Liu Bei fears. Today we are in a perilous state, if not for general Zhang He, we would not be safe."

Thus Zhang He was made the commander of the remaining army. Zhang He straightened out the army, tightening the troops. The various officers complying with his orders felt at eased. Cao Cao was in Chang'an, he dispatched orders to help relieve Zhang He.

Cao Cao personally arrived in Hanzhong. Liu Bei didn't dare to do battle so he stayed defending at Gao Shan. Cao Cao withdrew the various generals out of Hanzhong while Zhang He returned to station at Chencang.

According to Wei Lue: Although Xiahou Yuan held the rank of Chief Controller, Liu Bei feared Zhang He then Xiahou Yuan. After killing Xiahou Yuan, Liu Bei remarked:

"After acquiring the chief, who can do evil!"

Thus according to the Sanguozhi the Hanzhong Campaign appears to go as follows.

Fa Zheng advises Liu Bei to invade Hanzhong, to which Zhou Qun and Zhang Yu object.

Liu Bei listens to Fa Zheng and prepares an army to invade.

Zhang He attacks Ba Dong and Ba Xi, moving its citizens north to Hanzhong when Zhang Fei attacks him and defeats him, destroys him according to Zhang Fei's bio.

Zhang He returns and is promoted, thus he must not have been destroyed in battle, down to ten men or so, or the civilians he brought were enough to counterbalance the loss. Either way it should be noted that he was promoted despite losing. Something that not even Cao Ren could avoid when he was forced to flee from Zhou Yu in Jing.

Cao Cao then sends Cao Hong, with Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen, and Xin Pi under him to help defend Hanzhong.

For the next year Shu and Wei battle it out.

Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Wu Lan, Lei Tong and others to attack Cao Hong. The Shu army attempts trickery to defeat them but is found out by Cao Xiu. Cao Hong, Cao Xiu, and Cao Zhen then attack and defeat Wu Lan and Lei Tong, leading to the death of Lei Tong, Ren Kui and others.

Zhang Fei and Ma Chao are forced to fall back while Wu Lan is killed by the Di tribes who present his head to Wei.

Liu Bei also sent Chen Shi with 10 battalions to cut off the roads leading out of Hanzhong but Xu Huang attacked and defeated him.

Liu Bei then moves to Yangping to attack Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He.

At first Liu Bei attacked Zhang He, but could not overcome him at first.

Liu Bei then set fire to Zou Ma valley, putting Zhang He in a bad spot.

In response Xiahou Yuan sent half his troops to aid Zhang He. When he did, Huang Zhong beat his drums, made a great noise and attacked, defeating and killing Xiahou Yuan. The reason for Xiahou Yuan's death seems to be his lack of troops, due to his sending half his force to aid Zhang He, which appears to have been the plan as stated in Fa Zheng's bio.

Zhang He then gathered the remaining armies and pulled back to Yangping where he is placed in charge by Guo Huai and the other commanders.

Cao Cao mourns Xiahou Yuan's death and orders Cao Zhen to take command and order Xu Huang to attack Shu's separate division commander Gao Xiang at Yangping. Xu Huang defeats him.

Cao Cao then arrives to provide aid, at which point he attempts to battle with Liu Bei who, according to the biographies of Liu Bei, Cao Cao, Zhang He, Xu Huang, and Cao Zhen.

Cao Cao and Liu Bei stay in a stalemate for two months, something that happened many times between the nations throughout the Three Kingdoms period, during which Cao Cao's army starts to abandon him, including Wang Ping who surrenders and joins Shu.

Cao Cao then packs up his army and returns to Chang'an.

Only Fa Zheng's bio mentions any fighting between Cao Cao and Liu Bei, though it is only in a note at the end. The note makes no mention of where or when the fighting takes place, and while it says the fighting is between Cao Cao and Liu Bei, Cao Cao's own bio states that Liu Bei killed Xiahou Yuan, despite the fact that Huang Zhong killed him. It thus appears that the armies in question could not in fact be Cao Cao and Liu Bei but instead Cao Cao's army and Liu Bei's army.

After Cao Cao leaves, Meng Da and Liu Feng march on Shangyong and force the surrender of Shen Dan. Thus ends the Hanzhong campaign.

Fa Zheng, Ma Chao, Zhang Fei, and Huang Zhong are given ranks for their success, as well as a few other civil officers and Guan Yu (For holding Jing).

Thus we come to the problem I found while researching the battle. And that is the battle of Han River.

The battle itself is not mentioned in any of the relevant Sanguozhi biographies of the people involved, it is however mention in the Zhao Yun Biezhuan as follows.

In 219 AD, Liu Bei and Cao Cao were battling over the control of Hanzhong. Cao Cao had huge supplies of rice stocked up near the North Mountain. Zhao Yun sent his soldiers with Huang Zhong, one of Liu Bei's great generals, to attack Cao Cao's army and to take the rice. Huang Zhong did not return on time. Along with dozens of men, Zhao Yun went out of his camp to look for Huang Zhong. Cao Cao's main force was marching at that time.

Zhao Yun ran into Cao Cao's vanguards. Not soon after the two sides commenced to engage in battle, Cao Cao's main force arrived. The situation became very perilous for Zhao Yun, as he and his men were greatly outnumbered. He decided to attack the frontline of Cao Cao's army. Cao Cao's men were surprised by the attack and momentarily dispersed. However, they soon regrouped and surrounded Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun fought his way out toward his own camp. When he found out his lieutenant general Zhang Zhu was wounded and fell behind, he went back to rescue him.

Cao Cao's army pursued Zhao Yun to his camp. At that time, the Administrator of Mianyang, Zhang Yi, was at Zhao Yun's camp. Zhang Yi thought it best to have all the gates closed in order to defend the camp. However, upon entering the camp, Zhao Yun ordered all the flags to be dropped and hidden, all drums to be silenced, and the gates to be left open completely.

Suspicious of an ambush, Cao Cao's army hastily retreated. Zhao Yun ordered his drummers to beat drums as loudly as they could, and his archers to rain down arrows on Cao Cao's men. The stunned Cao army was completely routed. Trying to escape, Cao Cao's soldiers rushed toward the River of Han, and in confusion and panic many were pushed into the river, and drowned.

The day after the battle, Liu Bei arrived and inspected the battlefield. He exclaimed:

"Zilong (Zhao Yun) has valor through and through." He ordered a celebration, complete with wines and music until late that night, in honor of Zhao Yun. From then on, Liu Bei's army called Zhao Yun General Huwei, "The General with Courage of a Tiger."

The author of the Zhao Yun Biezhuan or Unofficial Biography of Zhao Yun is unknown and the entire bio seems to be made of folk tales or stories told about Zhao Yun collected into one long tale. The following is not uncommon, especially for the people of Shu, as has been seen with the way that Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang have been twisted throughout history. With Guan Yu being worshipped as an unstoppable 'God of War' and Zhuge Liang being praised as an unparalleled genius, able to easily outsmart everyone, who also uses and knows magic.

Oddly enough, the details of the battle, wherein Zhao Yun leads a dozen men to single handedly ride through the Wei army, rescuing the mighty Huang Zhong in the process, seem entirely fictional at first glance. As not only do none of the Sanguozhi's mention it, including Zhao Yun's himself, but at the end of the campaign, Zhao Yun is given no promotion, despite supposedly earning praise and a night long party by Liu Bei himself.

The battle also includes mention of the Empty Fort Strategy, a strategy which seems to have mostly been made up and is only mentioned in fictional accounts of battles such as with Zhuge Liang, Cao Cao and Wen Ping.

Which is another thing I find odd with the story, as, if it were retold in modern days would sound something like Zhao Yun rides out with a handful of men, saves a mighty general who had just earned his greatest fame, attacks and defeats the Russians singlehandly throwing them into confusion, and when they march against him he tricks and defeats them, this time routing the army, which is personally led by Putin himself, killing thousands. And the next day President Trump arrives shakes his hand, grants him an awesome nickname and throws a party for him through the night.

It sounds absolutely ridiculous. Like one of those bragging posts people post online, where they do something everyone cheers, and then Albert Einstein slaps them on the back tells them good job before giving them a million dollars. It sounds that rediculous.

And yet the battle is mentioned by both Pei Songzhi and Rafe de Crespigney for reasons I cannot see.

Again sourced only from Zhao Yun's unofficial biography. The two seem to have taken the approach that while it is not mentioned anywhere, it is also not not mentioned anywhere and thus might have or in fact did happen. Which I find odd.

They are of course only human after all, as I and everyone else is, and perhaps they have made a mistake or perhaps I have.

Either way while some might criticize Chen Shou for any faults he might have had as a person and/or historian, I do not believe any would say the man would forget a battle.Especially a battle of such magnitude and which involves not only Cao Cao, but also Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, and even Liu Bei at the end.

And yet their is no mention of it anywhere in Chen Shou's works.

Thus I can only conclude that one of four things happened.

Either A

The battle did not happen and is completely made up, as every mention of Cao Cao's involvement only mentions him arriving, Liu Bei refusing to give battle, his army starting to desert, and Cao Cao retreating.

B

The battle did happen but it was not as important as Zhao Yun's unnoficial bio states, and or the victory and results were exaggerated

C

The battle did happen but Cao Cao was not there himself and instead only 'Cao Cao's army.'

D

The battle happened exactly as detailed and Chen Shou just forgot to mention it. Ever.

While I will never know what happened, as it happened 2000 years ago, I must say that without supporting evidence beyond an unofficial biography written by someone, sometime, somewhere, that I must then conclude that it did not happen or at the very least did not happen as described.

Which while taking away from possibly Zhao Yun's greatest military achievement, personally almost single-handedly defeating and routing one of it not the greatest military mind at the time. (On a personal note, it sounds incredibly ridiculous the more times I type it out.) It should not take away from Zhao Yun that much, as the man was still praised by Chen Shou as being firm, courageous and of immense service alongside Huang Zhong. He then compares the two to Guan Ying and Xiahou Ying, either separatly with Huang Zhong being compared to Guan Ying and Zhao Yun being compared to Xiahou Ying, or both being compared to both.

Either way, Chen Shou seems to hold the two in high regard, while he does not hold Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, or Ma Chao in high regard.

In conclusion my thoughts on the Battle of Han River lean towards option A or C, wherein Zhao Yun did in fact attack Cao Cao's forces, securing a minor victory, one not big enough to be mentioned anywhere, and was just a minor thing. Or it did not happen at all.

[ankhshusband]

[oohkahmii]

An imaginative event created from a topic me and my friend talked about a little while back.

This scenario happened after 8XL’s Mountain Dingjun rescue mission (where Fa Zheng shielded Liu Bei from an arrow).

Yan felt indebted to Xiaozhi, she intends to return a favor. Knowing him- His belief in repaying debt whether good or ill- A “thank you” is barely sufficient.

Xiaozhi then proposed his ideal ‘reward’ that Yan could provide, which prompted Zilong to almost beat the shit out of him But by slamming him Zilong cracked the wooden partition smh destroying public property.

Will there ever be a continuation, perhaps.

Ps. Background stolen from Nirvana In Fire.

Guangyu © Amelia